Cae buffer



(No Model.)

- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. F. RICHARDS. v

GAR BUFFER.

No. 541,629. Patented June 25, 1895.

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WI TNESSES: v V %Z%% INVENTOR' Wm ATTORNEYS r NORRIS PETERS"5010447390.. WASNINGYON, b. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. P. RICHARDS;

GAR BUFFER.

Nd. 541,629. Patented June 25, 18-95.

ATTORNEYS n: mums PETERS co, Pnmaumm msu'marqwoia UNITED STATES PATENTEnron.

WILLARD F. RIOHARDS,OF BUFFALO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOULD COUPLER COMPANY,OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAR-BUFFER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,629, dated June 25,1895. 7

Application filed May 9, 1894. serial No. 5Io.5s2. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD F. RICHARDS, a citizen of the Unitedbtates,residing at the city of Bufialo, in the county of Erie and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oar-Buffers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of car means for operating thefollower or movable abutment of the buffer springs.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 is atop plan view, partly in section, of the platform of a railway carequipped with my improved bufier, the flooring being omitted to exposethe parts below the same. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section in line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section in line 3 3, Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A is the end sill of the car body; B, the longitudinal timbers of thestationary platform, and C the cross timber connecting the outer ends ofthe longitudinal timbers.

D is the transverse buifer or yielding platform extension which ispivoted centrally to the outer end of the main buffer bar or stem E, ina well known manner.

f is the light extension spring of the buffer which surrounds thecontracted rear portion of the main buffer stem and bears with its frontend against the usual collar or shoulder of said stem and with its rearend against the bottom of a horizontal socket g formed centrally in atranverse follower or abutment bar G. The rear portion of the bufferstem passes through an opening arranged in the bottom of the socket gand slides in an opening it formed in a stationary block H, in line withthe opening of the socket. The follower G is guided in horizontal slotsor recesses 9 formed in the longitudinal timbers of the platform, asshown in Fig. 2.

I isthe usual heavy buffer spring which surrounds the light extensionspring and bears with its rear end against the front side of thefollower G.

J J represent the side stems of the buffer which are pivoted at theirfront ends to the buffer, and K K are the auxiliary buffer springsarranged on the side stems. The latter are guided with their frontportions in openings formed in the cross timber 0. Their rear portionsmay be guided in openings formed in the end portions of the follower,but they preferably slide in tubes 70, as described and shown in LettersPatent of the United States, granted to me April 11, 1893, by whichconstruction the side springs serve to hold the bufier from rattlingwhen the cars are uncoupled, as well as to right the same.

Any other suitable spring mechanism for extending the buffer may beemployed, if desired.

L L represent arms or levers whereby the follower G is moved forwardafter coupling the cars for applying a supplemental tension to thespring of the bufier. These levers are secured to a transverse rockshaft, M arranged below the follower and bear With their free upper endsagainst the rear side of the follower. The rook shaft M is journaled inbearings arranged in the longitudinal timbers of the platform and isprovided at one end with an arm or lever N for turning it. To the freeend of this arm is attached an operating chain or cord 0 which may beconnected at its front end with any suitable device for pulling itforward so as to turn the rock shaft M, but the same is preferablysecured to the usual upright shaft 19, mounted on the platform, fromwhich-the car coupling is operated, so that upon turning said shaftforwardly, the chain is wound'upon the same and caused to turn the rockshaft forward, thereby swinging the tensioning levers L in the samedirection, moving the follower G toward the end of the platformandincreasing the tension of the buffer springs.

When the parts are in their normal position, before the cars arecoupled, the follower G is in its rear most position and bears againstthe rear ends of its guide slots. In this position,

abutment for the several springs, and upon coupling the cars, the bufferis pressed inward in the ordinary manner. After coupling the cars, theoperating shaft 19 is turned in the proper direction to cause thetensioning levers to push the follower forward so as to further compressthe springs of the buffer, the shaft being held against backwardmovement by the usual ratchet wheel and pawl with which it-is provided.The additional pressure thus exerted upon the buffer causes it to bepressed with correspondingly increased force against the buffer of theopposing car, thereby restraining the movements of the buffers upon eachother and checking the disagreeable swaying motion of the car, permittedby ordinary buffers.

\Vhen the cars are to be uncoupled, the shaft 19 is released to allowthe follower to return to its former position under the pressure of thebuffer springs and permit the latter to expand to their normal tension.By this backward movement of the follower the levers L are also returned to their former position. The resistance of the springs being nowcomparatively small, the cars can be easily uncoupled.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with the main platform ofthe car, the buffer or platform extension and a buffer spring, of afollower forming the rear abutment of said spring, a transverse rockshaft arranged below said follower and having an actuating armdisconnected from the draft gear of the car, whereby said shaft may beoperated independently of the draft gear, and a tensioning lever mountedon said rock shaft and bearing against said follower, substantially asset forth.

2. The combination with the main platform, the buffer or platformextension and its spring mechanism, of a follower forming the rearabutment of said spring mechanism, a transverse rock shaft having anactuating arm, a tensioning lever mounted on said rock shaft andengaging with said follower, an upright operating shaft mounted on thecar platform, and a chain or cord extending from the actuating arm ofthe rock shaft to said operating shaft, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 7th day of May, 1894.

WILLARD F. RICHARDS.

Vitnesses:

J NO. J. BONNER, ELLA R. DEAN.

